The UFC returns to Australia for a pay-per-view event for the first since 2011. Israel Adesanya seeks to add to his legacy by defending his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in tonight’s main event at UFC 293.
Read below as we recap the main card from tonight’s event at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Tyson Pedro vs. Anton Turkalj
Pedro has finished all nine victories, five by knockout and four by submission. The Swede, Turkalj, has finished seven of his eight wins, five of which came in the first round.
Round 1
Turkalj is having success with leg kicks in the opening minute.
A great one-two from Pedro stuns his opponent. Turkalj doesn’t have time to fully recover as he eats another couple of shots and hits the canvas. The referee, Marc Goddard, calls it off.
Tyson Pedro wins via knockout in round one.
Justin Tafa vs. Austen Lane
A rematch between the heavyweight power punchers after their first fight ended prematurely in June due to an accidental eye-poke from Lane in the first minute.
Round One
Eye poke from Lane. Oh no, not again! Luckily, Tafa is fine to continue.
Great left by Tafa floors Austen Lane. Ground and pound follows, and it’s another quick finish.
After the way the last fight between these two played out, Tafa will be a very relieved man.
Justin Tafa wins via TKO in round one.
Manel Kape vs. Felipe dos Santos
Kape caused a stir at the pre-fight press conference earlier this week as he threw a bottle at Kai Kara-France.
The former Rizin Bantamweight Champion fights Felipe dos Santos, who is coming to the end of a whirlwind week. Originally due to fight last weekend at the UFC APEX, dos Santos’ opponent failed to make weight, and the UFC offered him the opportunity to fight Kape tonight on short notice.
Round One
dos Santos heads straight into the pocket and has success. He needs to watch out for Kape’s counterstriking.
Kape floors dos Santos, but he gets back up quickly. The Brazilian is fighting wild!
Knee to the head by dos Santos and his right eye begins to swell. The last-minute replacement for Kai Kara-France begins to settle down as the round progresses.
Round Two
Dos Santos has visible swelling on his left shin from all the kicks he’s thrown.
Kape’s left hand continues to find a way through, and the difference in power between the two is becoming more apparent.
Huge left for Kape stuns dos Santos, but he refuses to budge, continuing to stand head-on with the #10 ranked flyweight.
Unbelievable combo from Kape. Great performance so far from the favorite. 20-18 on our scorecard as we head into the final round.
Round Three
Despite eating so many hard shots, dos Santos continues to be aggressive. He has some chin.
Kape is wobbled! He returns with a combo of his own. Kape secures a takedown to see out the remainder of the fight.
We go to the scorecards. A valiant effort from the Brazilian, however, Kape looked to be the one in control for large portions of the fight.
Manel Kape wins unanimously, 30-27, 29-28 x2.
Tai Tuivasa vs. Alexander Volkov
Co-main event. The #7 ranked rangey Volkov takes on the hometown hero coming off the back of two first-round finishes. Tuivasa is tied for the most knockout in the UFC since 2017 and has a reputation for always bringing it on fight night.
Round One
Tuivasa aiming for the lead leg of Volkov. He lands a nice body shot on Volkov but is on the receiving end of a nice counter.
The range is an issue for Tuivasa, but he’s closing the distance well. The issue is that it’s usually at the expense of eating shots on the way in.
Nasty leg kicks from Volkov as blood pours down from Tuivasa’s nose.
Volkov is landing more shots, but Tuivasa is the one forcing the pace. A counter right hand hurts Tuivasa, and a late flurry of strikes almost wins the fight for Volkov; however, Tuivasa manages to make it to the bell.
Round Two
The left leg of Volkov looks damaged as Tuivasa takes his corner’s advice during the break in action and targets it heavily.
Tuivasa drops to the canvas after a right hand, but it looks like he was off balance rather than a clean knockdown. Volkov attempts a guillotine. Shortly after, the Australian gets back to his feet.
Volkov is catching the kicks better. Tuivasa goes off balance once more, and Volkov begins the ground and pound. He secures an Ezekiel choke before Tuivasa taps out.
Alexander Volkov wins via submission in round two.
Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland
The middleweight champion looks to add to his legacy of being one of the greatest ever to do it. Standing in his way is the #5 ranked Strickland, coming off a second-round TKO victory over Abusupiyan Magomedov.
Round One
Subdued opening to the round. Strickland checking leg kicks well, Adesanya showcasing his quick feints.
Strickland drops Adesanya with a right hand. Wow!
Who would’ve seen that coming? Izzy eats strike after strike but survives.
Round Two
Adesanya is wary of Strickland’s boxing if he wasn’t already. Calculated and measured from the challenger.
High kicks are having more success for Adesanya as opposed to low kicks, which are being checked.
A right hand lands from Adesanya, and he smirks at Strickland. Undeterred, the challenger continues to pressure.
Round Three
Strickland isn’t throwing an awful lot but is doing a good job of stepping back at the last second to avoid leg kicks from Adesanya.
The champion circles, looking for openings, but Strickland’s defense is holding up well.
Left-hand counter lands from Strickland after Adesanya misses with a right hand. The challenger follows with a strong jab.
More significant strikes from Izzy, but the bigger strikes were from Strickland. 29-28 to Strickland
Round Four
Strickland’s left hook gets through several times, and Adesanya is taking some damage. Strickland hits hard.
Adesanya has missed over 100 head strikes. Strickland lands again and again with force.
The Champion lands a nice right hand but generally struggles to land punches. Another round for Strickland.
Round Five
Bar some questionable scorecards; Israel Adesanya needs a finish in the final round if he wishes to remain the champion.
The right-hand lands from Strickland, but Izzy returns it. It’s a close round, but that won’t be enough for the champion; he needs to go hell for leather.
Strickland is winning the fight with his boxing – the champion’s face is swollen.
One of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Strickland wins via unanimous decision, 49-46 x3.
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